Means for securing envelops from fraudulent or unauthorized opening.



No. 870,119. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

W. MYERS. MEANS POR SEGURING BNS/ ELOPS FROM FRAUDULENT 0R UNAUTHORIZED OPENING. APPLICATION FILED APB.2.19o4.

XE-@555,55 gEt-DT, M 7471i* hf WILLIAM MYERS, OF NEW BRIGHTON, ENGLAND.

MEANS FOR SECURING ENVELOPS FROM FRAUDULENT OR UNAUTHORIZED OPENING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lPatented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed April 26, 1904:. Serial No. 204,997.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MYERS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at New Brighton, in the county of Chester, in the Kingdom of England, printer and stationer, whose post-office address is Gorse Cottage, Hamilton Road, New Brighton aforesaid, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Securing Envelope from Fraudulent or Unauthorized Opening.

This invention relates to means for securing envelops and the like so as to prevent any fraudulent or unauthorized opening of the same without such opening being certain of detection.

In the accompanying drawings the securing means are clearly set orth, Figure l showing an envelop blank with serrated edges and securing means; Fig. 2 an envelop similar to Fig. l only closed up; Fig. 3 the lead seal in section with its component parts Separated; Fig. 4 the lead seal in section and after being secured.

The securing means in the first place comprise a seal of lead or other soit substance which itself consists of a button or stud of lead a a wafer or washer b preferably of a metal somewhat harder than lead although ii desired it may be of lead and a further washer or wafer c preferably of lead.

In use the stud head is first inserted through the hole f in the Wafer b and then through the envelop e to be secured, and then through the hole g in the second wafer c, after which the lead seal is pressed down by a suitable instrument or die and brought into the condition shown in Fig. 4 in which the soit metal of the stud projects over the edges of the wafer or wafers.

In order that the contents of the envelop e need not be subjected to the pressure necessary for spreading out the stud a of the seal a slot h is made in the envelop into which a jaw ofthe die of pressing device can enter.

In Fig. l the slot h is shown as made on the crease line of the gummed flap 1:, while a projection Z can be provided as'shown which on the envelop being closed passes through the slot h and can, after the seal has been secured, be gummed or otherwise fastened down so as to close up the slot h as regards the interior ofthe'envelope, or if desired be folded in the reverse direction and caught under the seal as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. As an additional security the envelop may be provided with serrations p as shown so that the parts not secured by the seal cannot be opened without tearing.

I declare that what I claim is l. An envelop provided with. a slot on the crease line of the nap, and a projection adapted to pass through said slot and gummed, whereby it may be fastened down to close up the slot, and means for securing envelops against fraudulent or unauthorized opening, comprising a stud of softinetnl adapted to be passed through the parts of the envelop to be secured', and a soft metal Wafer harder than said stud and adapted to be placed against the opposite side or' the envelop, and through which the head of said stud passes, and a second soft metal wafer through which the head of said stud also passes, with the soft metal of the stud compressed and projecting over the edges of said wafers.

2. An envelop provided with a slot on the crease line 01 the flap, and a projection adapted to pass through said slot and gummed, whereby it may be fastened down to close up the slot, said envelop being provided with serrations7 to give additional security to the envelope and prevent breaking of the seal Without tearing of the envelop, and means for securing envelops against fraudulent or unauthorized opening', comprising a stud of soft metal adapted to be passed through the parts of the envelop to be secured, and a soft metal wafer harder than said stud and adapted to be placed against the opposite side of the envelop and through which the head of said stud passes, and a second soft metal wafer through which the head of said stud also passes, with the soft metal of the stud c0mpressed und projecting over the edges of said wafers.

ln witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 16th day o1 April 1904, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

j WILLIAM MYERS.

Witnesses H. P. SHooBRIDGE, D. W. WILSON. 

